Worldbuilding Short Story Course with David Hartley

About the event

Learn how to craft living worlds for your stories in this practical course with author David Hartley.

Whether we're embarking upon an epic fantastical journey, or planning an intensive domestic drama, the creation of a story's 'world' can be an intimidating task. Just how much does the reader need to know? How can we make the setting feel alive without being overwhelming? And where do we even begin?

In this six-part in-person workshop series, writer and tutor David Hartley takes you on a step-by-step Worldbuilding process where you'll go from a blank page to a fully realised island realm bursting with tales and poetry, legends and histories.

We'll consider how landscape informs social mythmaking while taking a macro-view at setting as an engine of storytelling.

We'll use drawing and map-making as a method of imaginative play, then funnel all that energy back into prose writing via creation myths, jaunty ballads, heroic legends, and whatever else your creative mind summons up.

You'll produce an abundance of tales inspired by your personal worlds, and then work towards the writing of a story for a Comma Press eBook.

We'll also take a look at how others have reflected on the process of worldbuilding, including thoughts from JRR Tolkien, Ursula Le Guin, Cal Flyn, Jen Williams, and many others.

This is a hands-on, craft-focused workshop with lots of opportunities for interaction, collaborative creation, and playful surprises.

Let's build worlds together!

Fridays 6-8pm

Aug 28, Sep 25, Oct 23

Nov 20, Dec 18 & Jan 15

Levenshulme Old Library

M19 3QE

Please contact commapublishing@yahoo.com to apply for a discounted place or to avoid booking fees.